Billiard-table



, J. B. BOYD.

Billiard Table.

(No Model.)

' No. 24:,473. Patented May 17, 1881.

FIG.l.

.Zfrzvea'r or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. BOYD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BlLLlARD-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,473, dated May 17, 1881,

Application filed December 23, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatI, Josnrn B. BOYD, of Oincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bilhard-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

In the ordinary form of billiard-tables, the sides and ends are so disposed as to be at right angles to each other, which arrangement of square corners allows an expert to obtain great ad vantagesover an inexperienced player. This advantage is due to the fact that any skillful player can readily drive the balls into either corner of the table, and then nurse them for an indefinite length of time, or at leastnntil he has made such a heavy run as to give him the game; but it is evident the balls could not benursed in this manner unless the corners were square or right-angled, as such a shape prevents any separation or lateral dispersion of the two balls when repeatedly struck with the one that is being played against them. Thereforefto overcome this difiiculty so as to give a new player a chance as against an expert, I construct my table in such a manner as to afford obtuse angles at the corners of the same. The most obvious shape for producing this result is a hexagon, although any other regular polygonal form may be imparted to the table. In practice, however, I prefer giving the table the shape of two united hexagons, or, in other words, it is abihexagon table, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims. 3 5 In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a plan of my bihexagon billiard-table, and Fig 2 is a side elevation of the same.

In its more simple construction the bed or table A is made in the form of a hexagon, and 0 is surrounded with a rail or frame, a, whose inner edge is cushioned in any approved manner. As this table is hexagonal it is evident all the angles of the same are obtuse, and consequently there can be no opportunity for nursing balls at the corners. This shape of table will do very well for family games; but in order to increase the area of the same and give it a more complex form I add thereto another hexagonal bed, B, inclosed with a cushioned frame or rail, b, thereby aftordin g a bihexagon having a contraction or waist, O, at the junction of these two members A B.

It is evident this double table, like the single one, has obtuse angles at all its corners, and therefore if two balls are driven into either of 5 5 said corners and then struck with another ball, the pair will instantly disperse on account of the diverging shape of the frame surrounding the table. In addition to this advantage the waist 0 allows the players to have the most convenient access to the center of the table for the purpose of driving the balls either to the right or left consequently this contraction obviates the necessity of throwing one leg across the top of the table when the balls are 6 5. inconvenient] y disposed for the player, which ad vantage renders my table especially adapted for ladies use, as they are thus saved the ne cessityof assuming various unseemly positions while playing billiards.

The tables A and B may be separate, and yet be capable of uniting so as ,to form a single structure, if desired. Finally, pockets may be applied either to the single or hihexagon table.

I claim as my invention 1. A billiard-table in the form of a regular polygon with obtuse angles at its corners, for the purpose herein described,

2. A bihexagon billiard-table, as herein described, and for the purpose stated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH B. BOYD.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, J OHN Q. PORTER. 

